Systems and methods of content transaction consensus

ABSTRACT

A method of content transaction consensus includes receiving a request to initiate a transaction for play of video or audio content, the request being received from a data network connected device having a native player. The transaction is validated by consensus in a peer-to-peer network that maintains a distributed ledger, and a record of the transaction is stored in the distributed ledger only when the transaction is validated. The record including a reference file for the video or audio content with a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more designated content sources outside the peer-to-peer network. And the method includes providing access to the reference file by the data network connected device to enable the data network connected device to play the video or audio content using the reference file and a content data file.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/515,640, entitled: Video Content Blockchain, filed onJun. 6, 2017. The present application is related to U.S. Pat. Nos.9,955,222 and 9,918,134, issued on respectively Apr. 24 and Mar. 13,2018, both entitled: Method and System for Content Delivery. The presentapplication is also related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,544,657; 9,516,392 and8,893,203, issued on respectively Jan. 10, 2017, Dec. 6, 2016 and Nov.18, 2014, all of which entitled: Method and System for Content Delivery.The present application is further related to PCT Application No.PCT/AU2008/001190, filed on 15 Aug. 2008, which claims priority fromU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/956,405 filed on Aug. 17,2007, the above-referenced PCT International Application being publishedin the English language as International Publication No. WO 2009/023902Feb. 26, 2009. The contents of all of the aforementioned areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to digital video contentdelivery and, in particular, digital video content delivery utilizingvideo content blockchain architecture.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide content accessible over a network such as theInternet. A common way to access content over the Internet on a devicesuch as a personal computer is by using a web browser and a searchengine to locate desired content. Where the content is video content,such as movies or video clips, the content can be viewed using a videoplayer application, also known as a plug-in, provided in the webbrowser. The play of the video content is controlled through the website using the plug-in player. Problems with the quality of the viewingexperience can include poor resolution of images or pixilation ofimages, jitter or halting of the moving image, such problems are oftendue to bandwidth limitations or processing capacity.

A known system attempts to overcome the above problems by compiling andformatting video data in a specific format for providing to users overthe Internet which can be played by a special player designed to playthe specific format video data files. This system has drawbacks from theuser side, due to having to purchase the special player, and from thevideo content provider side, as it is necessary to re-format any videocontent for use with the player.

There is a need for a system which provides an improved Internet videocontent access and viewing experience.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The above cited and incorporated patent applications and patentsdescribe systems and methods for digital video content delivery in whicha reference file including a plurality of player control parametervalues and linking data for one or more content sources is provided.This linking data is used to acquire content from the content sourcesfor display on the user device. Example implementations of the presentdisclosure extend those and other systems and methods to incorporateblockchain.

A blockchain is a distributed database that maintains a list of ordered,time-stamped records called blocks, and it has traditionally been usedas a ledger of transactions. Example implementations of the presentapplication extend blockchain by the separation of digital video contentinto virtual blocks and video DNA (vDNA) blocks, and the storage ofthese blocks as a chain such that each block needs consensus prior tobeing delivered in a complete manner. The separation of digital videocontent into these blocks allows for different third-party partytechnologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and reporting tointersect each transaction.

Example implementations of the present disclosure have the potential todeliver a much more advanced block chain solution than a simpletransaction ledger, where a transaction is the distribution of an entiredigital video file. Digital video files and digital content filesincluding audio and video content are just data structures. When thesedata structures are disassembled at index and assembled at play, thedigital content files become integral to a new more secure, morecontrolled and more flexible blockchain.

Splitting digital video content at discovery and delivering each blockin two separate processes allows for greater control and flexibilityacross the blockchain. Transactions can be at a binary data level of thecontent itself. So the content carries its own micro ledger. In thismanner, example implementations of the present disclosure can providevisibility, accountability, audit and management at a data level, andprovide all of our new use case possibilities such as piracy andpersonalized ads (these tools can form part of the consensus of thechain in that they need be satisfied for the video to play). And thesebenefits can be provided while providing endless flexibility andmonetization of consumption of video without disrupting workflows, andas part of the blockchain.

The present disclosure thus includes, without limitation, the followingexample implementations.

Some example implementations provide a method of content transactionconsensus, the method comprising receiving a request to initiate atransaction for play of video or audio content, the request beingreceived from a data network connected device having a native player;validating the transaction by consensus in a peer-to-peer network thatmaintains a distributed ledger; storing a record of the transaction inthe distributed ledger only when the transaction is validated, therecord including a reference file for the video or audio content with aplurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one ormore designated content sources outside the peer-to-peer network; andproviding access to the reference file by the data network connecteddevice to enable the data network connected device to play the video oraudio content, the data network connected device: providing playercontrol commands to the native player based on the player controlparameter values, including player control commands directing the nativeplayer to acquire content data compatible with the native player fromwithin a content data file of one or more of the designated content datasources via the data network using the linking data; acquiring contentdata by the native player from the one or more content sources; andplaying, by the native player, the content acquired from each contentsource in accordance with the player control commands.

In some example implementations of the method of any preceding exampleimplementation, or any combination of any preceding exampleimplementations, the distributed ledger is a blockchain, and storing therecord of the transaction includes recording the transaction in a blockof the blockchain.

In some example implementations of the method of any preceding exampleimplementation, or any combination of any preceding exampleimplementations, providing access to the reference file includesproviding access to the distributed ledger and thereby the record of thetransaction and the reference file included therein.

In some example implementations of the method of any preceding exampleimplementation, or any combination of any preceding exampleimplementations, the method further comprises generating the referencefile in response to the request.

In some example implementations of the method of any preceding exampleimplementation, or any combination of any preceding exampleimplementations, the method further comprises generating the referencefile before the request is received.

Some example implementations provide an apparatus for contenttransaction consensus. The apparatus comprises a memory configured tostore computer-readable program code; and a processor configured toaccess the memory, and execute the computer-readable program code tocause the apparatus to at least perform the method of any precedingexample implementation, or any combination of any preceding exampleimplementations.

Some example implementations provide a computer-readable storage mediumfor content transaction consensus. The computer-readable storage mediumis non-transitory and having computer-readable program code storedtherein that in response to execution by a processor, causes anapparatus to at least perform the method of any preceding exampleimplementation, or any combination of any preceding exampleimplementations.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription together with the accompanying figures, which are brieflydescribed below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two,three, four or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure,regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combinedor otherwise recited in a specific example implementation describedherein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such thatany separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of itsaspects and example implementations, should be viewed as combinableunless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

It will therefore be appreciated that this Brief Summary is providedmerely for purposes of summarizing some example implementations so as toprovide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure.Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described exampleimplementations are merely examples and should not be construed tonarrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other exampleimplementations, aspects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying figures which illustrate, by way of example, the principlesof some described example implementations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE(S)

Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference willnow be made to the accompanying figures, which are not necessarily drawnto scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional transactional blockchain versus thecontent blockchain of example implementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates ledger differences between the traditionaltransactional blockchain and the content blockchain of exampleimplementations;

FIG. 3 is a process-flow diagram of a content-distribution ecosystemfrom content publisher to content viewer, including the contentblockchain, according to example implementations;

FIG. 4 illustrates more particularly a content blockchain servercluster, according to example implementations;

FIG. 5 illustrates a comparison of digital media versus virtualizedmedia according example implementations;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for a transaction according to exampleimplementations;

FIG. 7 illustrates public consensus according to some exampleimplementations;

FIG. 8 illustrates a traditional content workflow versus a virtualcontent workflow according to some example implementations; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an apparatus according to example implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some implementations of the present disclosure will now be describedmore fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, inwhich some, but not all implementations of the disclosure are shown.Indeed, various implementations of the disclosure may be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theimplementations set forth herein; rather, these example implementationsare provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, andwill fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in theart. As used herein, for example, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the”and the like include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The terms “data,” “information,” “content” andsimilar terms may be used interchangeably, according to some exampleimplementations of the present invention, to refer to data capable ofbeing transmitted, received, operated on, and/or stored. Also, forexample, reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values,relationships or the like. Unless otherwise stated, any one or more ifnot all of these may be absolute or approximate to account foracceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to engineeringtolerances or the like. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

As described herein and in the accompanying figures, the followingacronyms may be used:

-   -   AI—Artificial Intelligence    -   AWS—Amazon Web Services    -   CDN—Content Delivery Network    -   IP—Intellectual Property    -   MP4—MPEG-4 (one, non-limiting example of a suitable type of file        with which implementations of the present disclosure may work)    -   MPEG—Moving Pictures Expert Group    -   vDNA—video DNA (data without a container, may be video or any        other suitable media file of a structured format)    -   VVE—Video Virtualization Engine

Example implementations of the present disclosure are directed to acontent blockchain that applies a blockchain methodology to digitalcontent files. As described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, ablockchain is a distributed database that maintains a list of ordered,time-stamped records called blocks, and it has traditionally been usedas a ledger of transactions. The content blockchain of exampleimplementations extend blockchain by the separation of digital videocontent into virtual blocks and video DNA (vDNA) blocks, and the storageof these blocks as a chain such that each block needs consensus prior tobeing delivered in a complete manner. The separation of digital videocontent into these blocks allows for different third-party partytechnologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and reporting tointersect each transaction.

Example implementations of the present disclosure provide a newgeneration of opportunities for content owners and broadcasters who wishto improve content workflows, enhance security, establish trust, providetransparency and provide programmatic one-to-one personalization ofcontent digital content, which may be powered by AI or big data. Andthis may at the same time provide new monetization opportunities forcontent by driving consumer engagement via programmatic contentdelivery.

The content blockchain extends a blockchain by utilizing digital contentfiles at their data level where the traditional ledger record becomes orincludes a virtual file (at times referred to as a reference file). ThevDNA (the data, without the container) (at times referred to as acontent data file) sits in a controlled “private” network such as thecontent owner's physical network, or one to which they outsource theirprivate content (e.g., the cloud or a CDN). A node with the virtual file(an integrated ledger) must attain consensus to receive the vDNA, andthis consensus requires meeting certain business rules (e.g., a smartcontract agreement). Consensus is not achieved in instances in which thebusiness rules are not met. Only after consensus is achieved, is thevDNA delivered to the node, reassembled into media, and played.

The content blockchain not only provides access control, it provides thepower of smart contracts to monetize segments of footage without editingcontent, the power to interface data intelligence and big data inautomatically programming individually personalized content productionto an end user, in seconds, because the removal of the need for contentrendering. The content blockchain is like a place where any data may bestored semi-publicly in a container space (the virtual block). Anyonecan verify that a source placed that information because the containerhas the source's signature on it, but only the source (or a program) canunlock the connection to the vDNA stored inside the container becauseonly the source holds the private keys to that data, securely. So thecontent blockchain behaves almost like a database, except that part ofthe information that is public is the signature, access controls andempty file structure.

Smart contracts are the building blocks for decentralized applications.A smart contract is a set of rules around a set of values such asfinancial values, territorial or geographic values for licensingcontrols, even controls driven by AI or big data systems. Smartcontracts are the contractual governance between two or more parties,contracts that can be verified programmatically via the blockchain,instead of via a central arbitrator. They sit in the flow of vDNA so anythird-party application or service can sit between the finalization ofcontent delivery. Because of this, computer systems can use smartcontracts to programmatically build individually personalized contentfiles and manage the transactional value. Or a transaction system caninterface with the content blockchain, computer system and contentprovider to authorize a newly-produced piece of content where vDNA sitsacross different network nodes with different values and differentlicensing structures and have it delivered into a unique stream withinseconds of a user hitting play.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 1, in a typical blockchain applied tocontent, the actual blockchain ledger only contains the transactionalinformation, and the content is linked to that transactionalinformation. This current linkage is shown in the top part of FIG. 1,“Blockchain applied to Content.” But once the content is delivered, thelinkage is broken. That content is a “master” file that can be easilyshared, duplicated, or transacted upon without updating the ledger. Thebottom part of FIG. 1, the “The Content Blockchain,” shows how digitalvideo content is integrated inside of each block of the blockchain.

Virtual video is a form of ledger that describes to a video player wherethe video data resides and how it is to be presented. In the contentblockchain, this virtual video becomes part of the blockchain ledger, soboth the transaction information and a portion of the final video areincorporated in the block. This consolidation of a portion of the videoitself and the transaction information inside a blockchain blockenforces trust and transactional validity inherently to the samestrength as the blockchain itself. For a media file that is structured,binary data can be separated into the “structure” and the “data.” Byleaving the data remote, but incorporating the structure element of thecontent into the blockchain, the blockchain capabilities are extended tothe media/content.

FIG. 2 illustrates ledger differences between the traditionaltransactional blockchain and the content blockchain of exampleimplementations. In a cryptocurrency blockchain implementation, thereare a number of different fields that can define how a block isstructured, such as the magic number, followed by the block size, andthe block header that itself includes a number of different items (e.g.,version, hash previous block, hash merkle root). Just as most blockchaindefinitions have block headers, most media formats have headers (e.g.,for digital video, ISO 14496 part 4 (aka, MPEG-4)), which includedifferent items, including a hash (or sample table) that describes whereand how the media data exists and is to be played.

The content blockchain has a block structure that may be a hybrid oramalgamation of a traditional blockchain header and a media file header,with FIG. 2 describing an example of an ISO-based MPEG-4 header. Thisamalgamation brings the structural header information of the media fileinto the blockchain block. Just as with a traditional blockchain, oncethe content blockchain achieves consensus on a transaction, the block isverified, and the same properties that would apply to a cryptocurrencyapply to the media header.

FIG. 3 is a process-flow diagram of a content-distribution ecosystem 300from content publisher to content viewer, including the contentblockchain, according to example implementations of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates more particularly a content blockchainserver cluster 400, according to example implementations of the presentdisclosure. As shown, the system may be implemented with anInternet-based computing architecture including a computer network or anumber of interconnected computer networks in or over which a number ofsubsystems (each an individual system), computers and the likecommunicate or otherwise operate. The network may be implemented as oneor more wired networks, wireless networks or some combination of wiredand wireless networks. The network may include private, public,academic, business or government networks, or any of a number ofdifferent combinations thereof, and in the context of an Internet-basedcomputing architecture, includes the Internet. The network may supportone or more of any of a number of different communications protocols,technologies or the like, such as cellular telephone, Wi-Fi, satellite,cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber optics and the like.

In the system 300, the subsystems and computers connected to the networkmay also be implemented in a number of different manners. One example ofa suitable computer is a server computer although other implementationsare contemplated (e.g., mainframe computer, personal computer). Anotherexample of a suitable computer is a mobile device such as a smartphone.Other examples of suitable mobile devices include portable computers(e.g., laptop computers, tablet computers), cellular phones, wearablecomputers (e.g., smartwatches, optical head-mounted displays) and thelike.

A server computer may be embodied as one or more server computers, anetwork of interworking computing devices (e.g., a distributed computerimplemented by multiple computers) or the like. In some examples, theservers may be embodied as or otherwise form part of network ofinterworking computing devices, such as in a peer-to-peer computingarchitecture. This may enable a number of configurations of the systemor in which the system participates. One example of a suitableconfiguration is a distributed database such as a blockchain. As shown,in some examples, the system includes a content blockchain used todistribute video content as introduced above and described below, andthe system may include a finance blockchain used as a ledger offinancial transactions.

In FIG. 3, a content publisher typically publishes their content into aprivate cloud, a platform (such as a content management system), acontent delivery network (CDN), or some combination thereof. In oneexample implementation, the content may then be “discovered”—a processof virtualization that indexes the media headers—and publishes a virtualversion of the content into a content management system (CMS). Alsoshown is a distribution network such as the Internet. During this phaseof content-distribution, numerous tools may be applied to the content,such as artificial intelligence, transaction processing, auditing,tagging, analytics, and rights management. To this point in the diagram,the general process of content distribution to a network for consumptionhas been described.

As shown at the top of the diagram in FIG. 3, when a content viewerdesires to access some content, the content viewer uses a device orsoftware on a device (such as the iPhone in the figure), to access alocation on the network where the content can be acquired (e.g., astorefront). In a typical deployment today, the storefront or othercontent source would connect directly to the distribution network. Inthe content blockchain distribution model, a content blockchain serveris inserted in this part of the process. In the diagram, this is thecontent blockchain server cluster, but could be a single server, acluster of servers, or a collection of software running on real orvirtual servers.

When a storefront wishes to make a new piece of content available, itfinds the content on the network, and instructs the content blockchainserver (or server cluster) to create a new block based on the headers asdescribed in FIG. 2. This is a high-level diagram, and at a greaterlevel of granularity, the content blockchain server may be shown toperform a number of functions, such as consensus building to verifytransactions. To the right of the distribution network is a “financeblockchain,” which is optional and represents a traditional blockchainthat could be extended to create a content blockchain. Another functionof the content blockchain server is to issue instructions for thecreation of consumable media headers (e.g., virtual videos) for the enduser. The virtual delivery component delivers the remaining components(the content hash/sample data) to the content viewer's viewing device,potentially including the transactional history data from the contentblockchain block for these particular origin media (a virtual file). Theviewer can then retrieve the media's data from the point of publishing,optionally being proxied by a traffic manager.

Relative to FIG. 4, a content blockchain server cluster can operatemultiple consensus models for validating transactions. Examples ofsuitable consensus models include proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, andagreed consensus. The server may support arbitrary (and arbitrarilymany) models both because models may change over time, and because theremay be different parties with different interests (e.g., content ownersmay wish to use a private consensus governed by digital contracts; whilethe end-viewers may want the privacy and distributed trust of aproof-of-work consensus). FIG. 4 also shows that the underlyingtechnology of the content blockchain can contain any kind ofcomputational process across the entire OSI (Open SystemsInterconnection model) stack.

As introduced above and described below, the technology concept behindthe content blockchain is similar to that of a database, except that theway one interacts with the database is different. The content blockchainextends the blockchain in providing decentralized consensus, trustedcomputing, smart contracts, and proof of work/stake.

In accordance with example implementations of the present disclosure,digital content is split into two components that are maintained indifferent network nodes. The first component, “the ledger,” is a virtualfile that contains the core digital content container which housesextracted audio and video samples. This component is distributed acrossthe decentralized network, the virtual block. The second component isthe vDNA (extracted video and audio samples), and it is maintained in aprotected set of protected, accessible network (e.g., cloud)environments, the content block. Each sample in the vDNA is binary blockdata representing a group of video frames of pictures. FIG. 5illustrates a comparison of digital media versus virtualized media asdescribed in FIG. 1, according to some examples of virtual video.

As shown in FIG. 5, digital video (a) may be rendered into a solidblock. The process of virtualization (b) may reverse-engineer that blockinto its initial components of a virtual video file (c) and raw orencoded data (d). The virtual video file, much like a database, may bean architectural structure that tells the receiving component how todisplay the media. The actual structure varies by media type, but may beexemplified by MPEG-4 in the world of video. This uncoupling of the datafrom the header of the media file allows the structural components to beincluded in a blockchain block.

The digital content is unique and may be delivered across various nodesupon each transaction. As soon as the content is delivered to a user oraggregator or distributor it is decentralized. Because of this, rulesmay be in place to centralize decentralized content files, and theserules may add complexity to handle, process, authenticate and track thecontent. Virtual content on the content blockchain provides the power ofdecentralization, with the power of control, due to multiple layers ofaccess control. The consensus network validates the virtual content, andthe access control methods allow the flow of vDNA. This vDNA flowassembles on a user's device in response to the user pressing play, insome examples within seconds. And splitting content IP from its virtualcontainer and assembling the two back together at play using the contentblockchain, means that the content blockchain can verify everytransaction, every asset, on every device forever.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for a transaction according to exampleimplementations. And FIG. 7 illustrates public consensus according tosome examples.

FIG. 5 showed how a rendered video can be decomposed into two datastructures: a virtual file and video data (video DNA). FIG. 6 inparticular illustrates how these two components may sit within a contentblockchain architecture. A public consensus model such as that accordingto FIG. 7 may be applied to any transaction involving virtual videofiles, which are incorporated in the content blockchain. This publiccontent blockchain may be populated either directly by content creators(e.g., individual contributors), or by a private blockchain, whichseparately achieves consensus between related content rights holders,and potentially grants those rights to the public blockchain throughdigital contracts. Regardless of the number of levels of hierarchy inthe content blockchain (a two level hierarchy is shown in the diagram,but there could be one or more), the media data may only be distributedand may only be played after consensus of the rights of the virtual fileis achieved and granted.

In accordance with example implementations, all components of theblockchain must be in agreement for a transaction to be fulfilled. Insome examples, these include a virtual file distributed in an opennetwork (Internet), an access request (user), the virtual file deliveredwith authentication, (e.g., user ID, machine ID), consensus check onvalidity of the virtual asset and authentication across the consensusnetwork, (auth: location, timestamp etc.), vDNA data delivery fromcontrolled network to open network (vDNA=uncompilable binary data), andassembly at user device to form fully formed video file. In someexamples, using the content blockchain, smart contracts can be insertedat point of production (programmatic via AI or big data) or at point oftransaction (reporting and transaction engines).

To further illustrate example implementations of the present disclosure,FIG. 8 illustrates a traditional content workflow versus a virtualcontent workflow.

As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, thecontent blockchain provides the openness of a traditional blockchain viavirtual files and the control of content via controlled vDNA delivery.In the content blockchain, content can be programmatically produced foran individual without re-rendering. The content blockchain may also haveinherited benefits of content control never seen before in the mediaindustry. In this regard, the technology requires no transcoding forvideo, or storage for the files created from the video edits. Itenhances existing systems as opposed to replacing them, enhances everypart of the digital content value chain, drives the value of all thetechnologies in place surrounding content, interfaces big data andartificial intelligence, and/or “provides off the scale” levels of speedin the production and identification of content.

According to example implementations of the present disclosure, thesystem 300 and its subsystems and computers may be implemented byvarious means. Means for implementing the system and its subsystems andcomputers may include hardware, alone or under direction of one or morecomputer programs from a computer-readable storage medium. In someexamples, one or more apparatuses may be configured to function as orotherwise implement the system and its subsystems and computers shownand described herein. In examples involving more than one apparatus, therespective apparatuses may be connected to or otherwise in communicationwith one another in a number of different manners, such as directly orindirectly via a wired or wireless network or the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates an apparatus 900 according to some exampleimplementations of the present disclosure. Generally, an apparatus ofexemplary implementations of the present disclosure may comprise,include or be embodied in one or more fixed or portable electronicdevices. The apparatus may include one or more of each of a number ofcomponents such as, for example, a processor 902 connected to a memory904 (e.g., storage device).

The processor 902 may be composed of one or more processors alone or incombination with one or more memories. The processor is generally anypiece of computer hardware that is capable of processing informationsuch as, for example, data, computer programs and/or other suitableelectronic information. The processor is composed of a collection ofelectronic circuits some of which may be packaged as an integratedcircuit or multiple interconnected integrated circuits (an integratedcircuit at times more commonly referred to as a “chip”). The processormay be configured to execute computer programs, which may be storedonboard the processor or otherwise stored in the memory 904 (of the sameor another apparatus).

The processor 902 may be a number of processors, a multi-core processoror some other type of processor, depending on the particularimplementation. Further, the processor may be implemented using a numberof heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is presentwith one or more secondary processors on a single chip. As anotherillustrative example, the processor may be a symmetric multi-processorsystem containing multiple processors of the same type. In yet anotherexample, the processor may be embodied as or otherwise include one ormore ASICs, FPGAs or the like. Thus, although the processor may becapable of executing a computer program to perform one or morefunctions, the processor of various examples may be capable ofperforming one or more functions without the aid of a computer program.In either instance, the processor may be appropriately programmed toperform functions or operations according to example implementations ofthe present disclosure.

The memory 904 is generally any piece of computer hardware that iscapable of storing information such as, for example, data, computerprograms (e.g., computer-readable program code 906) and/or othersuitable information either on a temporary basis and/or a permanentbasis. The memory may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory, andmay be fixed or removable. Examples of suitable memory include randomaccess memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard drive, a flashmemory, a thumb drive, a removable computer diskette, an optical disk, amagnetic tape or some combination of the above. Optical disks mayinclude compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write(CD-R/W), DVD or the like. In various instances, the memory may bereferred to as a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readablestorage medium is a non-transitory device capable of storinginformation, and is distinguishable from computer-readable transmissionmedia such as electronic transitory signals capable of carryinginformation from one location to another. Computer-readable medium asdescribed herein may generally refer to a computer-readable storagemedium or computer-readable transmission medium.

In addition to the memory 904, the processor 902 may also be connectedto one or more interfaces for displaying, transmitting and/or receivinginformation. The interfaces may include one or more communicationsinterfaces and/or one or more user interfaces. The communicationsinterface(s) may be configured to transmit and/or receive information,such as to and/or from other apparatus(es), network(s) or the like. Thecommunications interface may be configured to transmit and/or receiveinformation by physical (wired) and/or wireless communications links.The communications interface(s) may include interface(s) 908 to connectto a network, such as using technologies such as cellular telephone,Wi-Fi, satellite, cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber optics andthe like.

The user interfaces may include a display 912 and/or one or more userinput interfaces 914. The display may be configured to present orotherwise display information to a user, suitable examples of whichinclude a liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode display(LED), plasma display panel (PDP) or the like. The user input interfacesmay be wired or wireless, and may be configured to receive informationfrom a user into the apparatus, such as for processing, storage and/ordisplay. Suitable examples of user input interfaces include amicrophone, image or video capture device, keyboard or keypad, joystick,touch-sensitive surface (separate from or integrated into a touchscreen)or the like. The user interfaces may further include one or moreinterfaces for communicating with peripherals such as printers, scannersor the like.

As indicated above, program code instructions may be stored in memory,and executed by processor that is thereby programmed, to implementfunctions of the systems, subsystems, tools and their respectiveelements described herein. As will be appreciated, any suitable programcode instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmableapparatus from a computer-readable storage medium to produce aparticular machine, such that the particular machine becomes a means forimplementing the functions specified herein. These program codeinstructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage mediumthat can direct a computer, processor or other programmable apparatus tofunction in a particular manner to thereby generate a particular machineor particular article of manufacture. The instructions stored in thecomputer-readable storage medium may produce an article of manufacture,where the article of manufacture becomes a means for implementingfunctions described herein. The program code instructions may beretrieved from a computer-readable storage medium and loaded into acomputer, processor or other programmable apparatus to configure thecomputer, processor or other programmable apparatus to executeoperations to be performed on or by the computer, processor or otherprogrammable apparatus.

Retrieval, loading and execution of the program code instructions may beperformed sequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loadedand executed at a time. In some example implementations, retrieval,loading and/or execution may be performed in parallel such that multipleinstructions are retrieved, loaded, and/or executed together. Executionof the program code instructions may produce a computer-implementedprocess such that the instructions executed by the computer, processoror other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementingfunctions described herein.

Execution of instructions by processor, or storage of instructions in acomputer-readable storage medium, supports combinations of operationsfor performing the specified functions. In this manner, an apparatus 900may include processor 902 and a computer-readable storage medium ormemory 904 coupled to the processor, where the processor is configuredto execute computer-readable program code 906 stored in the memory. Itwill also be understood that one or more functions, and combinations offunctions, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computersystems and/or processor which perform the specified functions, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and program code instructions.

As explained above, the present disclosure includes any combination oftwo, three, four or more features or elements set forth in thisdisclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements areexpressly combined or otherwise recited in a specific exampleimplementation described herein. This disclosure is intended to be readholistically such that any separable features or elements of thedisclosure, in any of its aspects and example implementations, should beviewed as combinable, unless the context of the disclosure clearlydictates otherwise.

Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thedisclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing description and the associated figures. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specificimplementations disclosed and that modifications and otherimplementations are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and theassociated figures describe example implementations in the context ofcertain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should beappreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions maybe provided by alternative implementations without departing from thescope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, differentcombinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitlydescribed above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of theappended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for content transaction consensus,the apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store computer-readableprogram code; and a processor configured to access the memory, andexecute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to atleast: receive a request to initiate a transaction for play of video oraudio content, the request being received from a data network connecteddevice having a native player; validate the transaction by consensus ina peer-to-peer network that maintains a distributed ledger; store arecord of the transaction in the distributed ledger only when thetransaction is validated, the record including a reference file for thevideo or audio content with a plurality of player control parametervalues and linking data for one or more designated content sourcesoutside the peer-to-peer network; and provide access to the referencefile by the data network connected device to enable the data networkconnected device to play the video or audio content, the data networkconnected device being enabled to at least: provide player controlcommands to the native player based on the player control parametervalues, including player control commands directing the native player toacquire content data compatible with the native player from within acontent data file of one or more of the designated content data sourcesvia the data network using the linking data; acquire content data by thenative player from the one or more content sources; and play, by thenative player, the content acquired from each content source inaccordance with the player control commands.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the distributed ledger is a blockchain, and the apparatusbeing caused to store the record of the transaction includes beingcaused to record the transaction in a block of the blockchain.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus being caused to provideaccess to the reference file includes being caused to provide access tothe distributed ledger and thereby the record of the transaction and thereference file included therein.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe processor is configured to execute the computer-readable programcode to cause the apparatus to further generate the reference file inresponse to the request.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is configured to execute the computer-readable program code tocause the apparatus to further generate the reference file before therequest is received.
 6. A method of content transaction consensus, themethod comprising: receiving a request to initiate a transaction forplay of video or audio content, the request being received from a datanetwork connected device having a native player; validating thetransaction by consensus in a peer-to-peer network that maintains adistributed ledger; storing a record of the transaction in thedistributed ledger only when the transaction is validated, the recordincluding a reference file for the video or audio content with aplurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one ormore designated content sources outside the peer-to-peer network; andproviding access to the reference file by the data network connecteddevice to enable the data network connected device to play the video oraudio content, the data network connected device: providing playercontrol commands to the native player based on the player controlparameter values, including player control commands directing the nativeplayer to acquire content data compatible with the native player fromwithin a content data file of one or more of the designated content datasources via the data network using the linking data; acquiring contentdata by the native player from the one or more content sources; andplaying, by the native player, the content acquired from each contentsource in accordance with the player control commands.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the distributed ledger is a blockchain, and storing therecord of the transaction includes recording the transaction in a blockof the blockchain.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein providing access tothe reference file includes providing access to the distributed ledgerand thereby the record of the transaction and the reference fileincluded therein.
 9. The method of claim 6 further comprising generatingthe reference file in response to the request.
 10. The method of claim 6further comprising generating the reference file before the request isreceived.
 11. A computer-readable storage medium for content transactionconsensus, the computer-readable storage medium being non-transitory andhaving computer-readable program code stored therein that in response toexecution by a processor, causes an apparatus to at least: receive arequest to initiate a transaction for play of video or audio content,the request being received from a data network connected device having anative player; validate the transaction by consensus in a peer-to-peernetwork that maintains a distributed ledger; store a record of thetransaction in the distributed ledger only when the transaction isvalidated, the record including a reference file for the video or audiocontent with a plurality of player control parameter values and linkingdata for one or more designated content sources outside the peer-to-peernetwork; and provide access to the reference file by the data networkconnected device to enable the data network connected device to play thevideo or audio content, the data network connected device being enabledto at least: provide player control commands to the native player basedon the player control parameter values, including player controlcommands directing the native player to acquire content data compatiblewith the native player from within a content data file of one or more ofthe designated content data sources via the data network using thelinking data; acquire content data by the native player from the one ormore content sources; and play, by the native player, the contentacquired from each content source in accordance with the player controlcommands.
 12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, whereinthe distributed ledger is a blockchain, and the apparatus being causedto store the record of the transaction includes being caused to recordthe transaction in a block of the blockchain.
 13. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 11, wherein the apparatus being caused toprovide access to the reference file includes being caused to provideaccess to the distributed ledger and thereby the record of thetransaction and the reference file included therein.
 14. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11 having computer-readableprogram code stored therein that in response to execution by theprocessor, causes the apparatus to further generate the reference filein response to the request.
 15. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 11 having computer-readable program code stored therein that inresponse to execution by the processor, causes the apparatus to furthergenerate the reference file before the request is received.